Tying Two Threads Together (unintentional alliteration)

I found another article I believe complements the post before the last. Here is a quote which I consider a keeper:

Appleyard writes, "We could not now respectably speak of 'the improvement of the race' or of 'selective breeding'--the terminology of the old eugenics--but we do speak of the 'quality of life' and assess our children in consumerist terms." Not only is the meaning of childhood distorted but the meaning of parenthood as well. Selective abortion means selective acceptance. The unconditional character of maternal and paternal love is replaced by choice, quality control, and an only conditional acceptance.

This is a terrible time to be a human being. It seems as if the only reason children are alive is because their parents haven't killed them yet. All the talk about "overpopulation" makes a human being feel like he is an unwanted space-taker.
These are interesting times we live in. At one end, we have First World Leaders unwilling or unable to put a meaningful effort to preventing or fighting wars (Bush notwithstanding) as populations in poor countries skyrocket, as do the number of casualties in conflicts worldwide. On the other hand, unfettered scientific progress looks ready to manufacture a post-human race, widening the chasm between haves and have nots. It looks like our world is primed for a disaster no one will withstand.